New Delhi, Oct 6: High drama unfolded in New Delhi on Tuesday as the INDIA bloc’s protest march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar escalated near Akashvani Bhawan. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other opposition leaders, entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises after security personnel stopped their march towards the Election Commission headquarters.
The opposition MPs had begun their march from Parliament’s Makar Dwar towards Nirvachan Sadan, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The protest is linked to the opposition’s concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes related to Form 6, the statutory application used for voter enrolment.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi join protest
Security personnel stopped the opposition leaders near the Niti Aayog office on Parliament Street. After being prevented from moving forward, the MPs sat on the road in protest.
Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee climbed onto a police barricade during the protest. Priyanka Gandhi was initially taken to a bus after being detained but soon returned and joined Rahul Gandhi near the Akashvani gate.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Congress MP Deepender Hooda subsequently entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through the reception gate. They were later seen sitting under a tree as a large number of police personnel gathered at the spot.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma also reached the area with additional police personnel.
Opposition raises slogans against CEC
During the INDIA bloc march, opposition MPs carried cutouts depicting Gyanesh Kumar in an RSS uniform and raised slogans targeting the Election Commission and the BJP.
Some of the slogans included “BJP hai CEC hai,” “Vote chor, gaddi chhod” and “Democracy not for sale.”
Rahul Gandhi also posted a message on X targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, saying that it was time for Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Opposition questions Form 6 changes
The protest comes amid a growing opposition campaign over the SIR electoral roll revision and the controversy surrounding an additional declaration attached to Form 6.
Opposition parties have questioned the Election Commission’s explanation regarding the declaration and have cited recent observations by the Supreme Court.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said the Supreme Court’s observations had strengthened the opposition’s objections to the additional declaration introduced during the SIR exercise.
He alleged that an earlier statement by the Election Commission regarding the Supreme Court’s position on Form 6 was misleading.
Supreme Court seeks clarity on Form 6
The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that it had not approved any modified version of Form 6. The court said it would examine the Election Commission’s records to determine whether changes had been made and who had authorised them.
The observations came during the hearing of a petition challenging alleged unilateral decisions concerning the voter enrolment process.
The Election Commission, in its September 26 statement, had said that the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR exercise had been upheld by the Supreme Court. It also stated that the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to be used outside the SIR period.
Opposition questions security arrangements
The heavy security deployment around Parliament and the Election Commission headquarters also became a major talking point during the protest.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the deployment of a large number of security personnel, arguing that opposition MPs intended to conduct a peaceful march.
Raut also accused the CEC of misleading the public regarding the Supreme Court’s observations on Form 6 and said Gyanesh Kumar had no moral right to continue in office.
Congress MP Imran Masood also accused the Election Commission of losing public trust under Gyanesh Kumar’s leadership.
INDIA bloc intensifies campaign against CEC
The latest protest is part of the opposition’s broader campaign over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and concerns about the Election Commission’s functioning.
Opposition parties have also raised questions over reported differences within the three-member Election Commission. However, the poll body has rejected suggestions of any internal split and maintained that decisions relating to SIR were taken unanimously.
With Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several INDIA bloc MPs directly participating in the protest, the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is likely to remain a major political issue in the coming days.
